Mobile County School Board delays decision on Drop Back In program

View full sizeThe Mobile County school board postponed Thursday whether to renew a contrat with Alternatives Unlimited, which runs several Drop Back in Academies throughout the county. Student, Jefferey Whittaker Jr. works on a project at Mobile's academy Wednesday June 29, 2011. (Press-Register/Victor Calhoun)

Superintendent Roy Nichols said during a school board meeting Thursday that he wants to sit down with academy officials to go over ways the company can improve its program. It has drawn criticism for graduating only 105 students, despite receiving $4.4 million in state funding over the last two years.

Nichols said he’ll recommend that the board renew the contract with Alternatives Unlimited Inc., so that students who are close to graduating can finish their work.

Also, the school system would seek applications from other companies or organizations to run a similar program for dropouts in 2012-13.

Board member Reginald Crenshaw — who said the existing program is neither “effective” or “efficient” — said he’d rather start pursuing applications now, to make changes for the upcoming school year. Some, however, cautioned there might not be enough time.

Alternatives Unlimited runs 12 Drop Back In Academies scattered throughout the county, where dropouts, ages 17-21, can earn high school credits online.

The state pays $4,500 per student enrolled. Alternatives Unlimited collects 90 percent, and the school system gets 10 percent as an administrative fee.

About 700 students who were counted on the rolls have quit the program outright.

“If we wait another year, they’re going to get another million dollars or more,” Crenshaw said.

Board President Ken Megginson said that while there is need for improvement, he sees no options to Alternatives Unlimited for 2011-12.

Carla McNeal, director of the Drop Back In Academies here, said the program will keep “chugging along” until and unless it hears otherwise from the board. “We’re preparing for the next school year,” she said. “We’ve got 170 students on track to graduation.”

Also Thursday, the board approved a contract with BWP & Associates to conduct a nationwide superintendent search for a cost not to exceed $31,335. Nichols has announced that he is retiring in December. According to the contract, the new superintendent should be working here by Oct. 31, so that Nichols will be able to help in the transition.

And the board appointed the following principals: Rhonda Mayfield at Alba Middle, James Gill at Causey Middle, Deborah Torbert at Hollingers Island Elementary, Katharine Reeves at Tanner Williams Elementary and Timothy Dollar at Wilmer Elementary. The board will fill other principal vacancies this month.